Should I take the plunge...

[Wills]

Go for the 6 foot

Ive got a 6ft long x 2ft tall x 18inch wide at the moment and it give you a lot of options Im hoping (unbeknown to my wife) to get a 6x2x2 or maybe even a 7x2x2 when we redo the kitchen this year or next. I got mine from ND aquatics and its been a great tank. But there are some really nice set ups available now with nice stands and overhead lights etc. The maintenance on a 4x2x2 vs a 6x2x2 probably wont be that much different as you will need pipes and pumps to do water changes on the 4x2x2 anyway.

 

[Curiosity101]

I'm currently waiting on a quote from Wharf Aquatics for a 4x2x2 Low iron tank + stand + hood. The 6fter will definitely have to wait and see. I already know exactly where I'm putting the tank, but don't know how much space there will be on that wall cause there will be a corner sofa taking up some of it.

Fortunately I'm very lucky cause the husband is completely on board. He has actually already ok'd me anything up to a 6fter should I want one / we have space. He basically said 'Is it any more effort?' and I pretty much said what you said Wills. Cause like you said once you get to 4x2x2 you're not doing water changes with a bucket anymore regardless!

It's going to be awhile before I can do anything though cause we're currently planning a remodel of the kitchen / dining room, after that we're remodeling the bathroom and only then can we take a look at money and decide if we can afford to redecorate the living room. The tank would be going in the living room so it's right down on the list. We're probably talking.... September time I'd have thought.

That does mean that by then I'll have planned my entire stock list and landscaping. And it does mean I can keep my eye out for any good bits of wood or deals on substrate. I definitely want something fine like sand in this tank but I think I'd prefer something darker than play sand.

 

[Wills]

Haha I know what you mean we are the same - when we redo the kitchen we are going to have to do it in 2 parts because of the fish tank. But it does mean I can get the new tank delivered and then empty my current one which will make things nice and easy!

I would definitely go with sand, I have grey sand in mine which is ok but wish I had gone for something more natural. I'm really loving the leaf litter look at the moment and when you read into the benefits for fish of having leaf litter it makes it really interesting. Leaves and seed pods etc are getting quite easy to find at the moment as well there are a few specialist sites that do it. Im need to look for a supply of beech leaves as they dont effect the water as much as most others do.

Wills

 

[Curiosity101]

Interesting, I'll look into the leaves and seed pods

I'm definitely after either brown or black sand. I had Tahitian moon sand in a tank before and I did like it. I think I'd prefer a dark brown / some sort of brown though this time.

Tahitian moon sand...

And for comparison, the same Bolivian ram on playsand...